Modular furniture

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a modular article of furniture made up of a number of modules, each of the modules is made up of two panels which may be plywood or the like. The panels are in pairs similar to each other, each have a semi-circular cutout in one side and the panels are arranged at right angles to each other. The upstanding arms formed by the cutouts can be used to support the edges of support surfaces, such as chairs, tables, lamps, and the like, and the arms can be connected together by rods, if desired, to hold them together in a modular furniture assembly with the rods extending through the arms of more than one support.

Unite States Patent 11 1 [111 3,729,229 Minsker 1 1 Apr. 24, 1973 1 MODULAR FURNITURE 3572,824 3/1971 Schupbach e181. ..297/442 [76] lnventor: Lawrence D. Minsker, 102 Pleasant View Drive, jamfistowm y Primary Examiner-James T. McCall l 4701 Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette AlmrneyCharles L. Lovercheck [22] Filed: Oct. 7, 1970 [21] Appl. No: 78,779 ABSTRACT The specification discloses a modular article of furni- 52 us. Cl. ..297/442, 297/248, 297/445, we made p of number of modules, each of the 297/457 modules is made up of two panels which may be 5 1] Int. Cl ..A47c 4/02 p y or the like- The panels are in Pairs Similar to [58] Field of Search ..L ..297/441, 442, 457, each r, each have a ir l r Cutout in n 297/452; D48/20, 20.1; 312/222; 108/157, side and the panels are arranged at right angles to 159, 153 each other. The upstanding arms formed by the eutouts can be used to support the edges of support sur- [56] References Cited faces, such as chairs, tables, lamps, and the like, and the arms can be connected together by rods, if UNITED STATES PATENTS desired, to hold them together in a modular furniture 2,444,991 7 43 Hunter 297 447 assembly with the rods extending through the arms of 3,499,682 3/1970 Orenstein 297/441 more than one support 2,347,821 5/1944 Goldner 297/442 3,407,001 [0/1968 Minsker 297/442 5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 3,460,866 8/1969 Kessel ..297/442 Patented April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3mm LAWRENCE D. MINSKER Patented April 24, 1973 3,729,229

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LAWRENCE D. MINSKER W X/W MODULAR FURNlTURE STATEMENT OF INVENTION This invention relates to furniture and, more particularly, to modular furniture which can be made of similar parts.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved modular type furniture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved modular type of furniture, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved modular chair, table, and lamp support arrange ment.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size,

proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of the modular furniture according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of another arrangement of the furniture.

FIG. 3 is a view of yet another arrangement of the furniture.

FIG. 4 is a view of still another arrangement.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the parts of one ofthe modules shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is yet another view of one of the modules shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another one of the modules of the furniture shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of another one of the modules.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of yet another one of the modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the module furniture includes modular reclining chairs l0 and 11 attached to each other and attached to module 12, a stool, and module 13, module 14, base supports, and module 15, a lamp support. Each of rods 22 can be one continuous rod that extends through the arms of modules 15 and 11, holding them together.

Referring now to FIG. 5, which shows an exploded view of the parts that make up modules 10 and 11, the panels 16 being arranged at right angles to each other and the panel 16 being notched at 28 to receive the lower part of the panel 29. Each of the panels 16 and 29 have an arcuate cutout 23 which defines the upwardly extending arms 20 and 21. Arm 20 is longer than arm 21 so that it extends up further. The arms each have openings 19 formed in them and these openings 19 receive the rods 22. The rods 22 support the flexible chair seat 30. The rods extend through the openings 31 and 32 in the opposite ends of the chair seat panel. The panels 16 and 29 may be held together by suitable fasteners such as screws, bolts, glue or the like.

Referring to FIG. 6, the panelswhich make up the module 12 are indicated at 116 and 129. The panels each have an arcuate cutout 123 which defines the upwardly extending arms 120 and 121. The arms each have openings 119 which receive the rods 122. The rods 122 pass through openings 131 and 132 in the seat panel 130. One of the rods may be of double length so that it passes through the holes 19 and 119 of the two adjacent modules for holding them together.

Referring to FIG. 7, the module 13 shown has two panels 116 and 129 witharcuate cutouts 26 which define the arms 24 and 25. The semi-cylindrical support 136, a diametrically disposed support surface 137, and the cylindrical part 138 may rest on the surfaces 26 and the cover 27 may rest on the surface 137 and be fastened to the upper ends of legs 25 and 26 by means of suitable screws or the like. The notch 128 will receive the material below the notch 129 so that the panels 116 and 129 are held firmly in position.

In the module 15, shown in FIG. 8, the two panels 216 and 229 are shown. These panels have the arcuate cutout 226 therein which define the arms 224 and 225. Notches 228 and 229 are matched, as in the other embodiments, and the two panels are held together by suitable fasteners.

The support member 227 is supported on top of the upper ends of the arms 224 and 225 and may be held thereto by suitable screws, glue or other arrangement.

The module 14, shown in FIG. 9, is made of two panels, each having an arcuate cutout 226 and 326. The notches 329 receive the material at the bottom of notches 328. Thus the two panels 324 and 325 are held at right angles to each other and the lamp 330 may be supported between the two panels as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The two support members 336 may be supported in the cutouts 226 and 326 between the members 324 and 325 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, a seat, table and lamp, said combination comprising a flexible reclining seat,

a table,

a lamp,

said flexible reclining seat comprising, a flexible seat member a first seat panel member and a second seat panel and a second rod means connecting said short leg members,

said flexible seat member being supported on said first and second rod means a lamp support comprising two panels disposed at rightangles to each other, each panel having a central arcuate cutout,

said lamp being disposed in said cutouts,

said lamp support panels being attached to said seat panel members.

2. A piece of furniture comprising two flat platelike panel members, each having an arcuate cutout at the top thereof and defining two spaced upturned arms at the ends of said cutout,

said platelike panel members being disposed at right angles to each other and intersecting at their center, a pairof rigid elements, each element connecting a pair respective adjacent upturned arms of said panel members and a support member attached to said rigid elements at the ends of said support member,

said support member being suspended from the upper ends of said upstanding arms and being spaced from said arcuate cutout between said upstanding arms.

3. The piece of furniture recited in claim 2 wherein said support member comprises a flexible member,

a hole in the upper end of each said arm,

each said rigid element comprises a rod extending through a pair of said holes in said upper ends of said arms,

and said flexible member being attached to saidrods.

4. The piece of furniture recited in claim 3 wherein two said pieces of furniture are disposed in side by side relation and one said rod extends through the holes in two arms of each of said adjacent pieces of furniture holding said supports together.

5. The piece of furniture recited in claim 4 wherein one arm of each said platelike member is longer than the other whereby said flexible support member provides both a seat and a backrest ofa chair. 

1. In combination, a seat, table and lamp, said combination comprising a flexible reclining seat, a table, a lamp, said flexible reclining seat comprising, a flexible seat member a first seat panel member and a second seat panel member, said first seat panel member and said second seat panel member being disposed at right angles to each other and each of said seat panel members having a long upwardly extending leg and a short upwardly extending leg, a first rod means connecting said long leg members, and a second rod means connecting said short leg members, said flexible seat member being supported on said first and second rod means a lamp support comprising two panels disposed at right angles to each other, each panel having a central arcuate cutout, said lamp being disposed in said cutouts, said lamp support panels being attached to said seat panel members.
 2. A piece of furniture comprising two flat platelike panel members, each having an arcuate cutout at the top thereof and defining two spaced upturned arms at the ends of said cutout, said platelike panel members being disposed at right angles to each other and intersecting at their center, a pair of rigid elements, each element connecting a pair respective adjacent upturned arms of said panel members and a support member attached to said rigid elements at the ends of said support member, said support member being suspended from the upper ends of said upstanding arms and being spaced from said arcuate cutout between said upstanding arms.
 3. The piece of furniture recited in claim 2 wherein said support member comprises a flexible member, a hole in the upper end of each said arm, each said rigid element comprises a rod extending through a pair of said holes in said upper ends of said arms, and said flexible member being attached to said rods.
 4. The piece of furniture recited in claim 3 wherein two said pieces of furniture are disposed in side by side relation and one said rod extends through the holes in two arms of each of said adjacent pieces of furniture holding said supports together.
 5. The piece of furniture recited in claim 4 wherein one arm of each said platelike member is longer than the other whereby said flexible support member provides both a seat and a backrest of a chair. 